November 23, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 12, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: The Election Commission is expected to allocate symbols to political parties on Dec 3.

Sources in the commission said that the last date for submission of applications for symbols was Nov 28, but no party had applied so far.

Meanwhile, the commission has clarified that restrictions on election expenses still existed.

The expenses of a candidate for a National Assembly seat should not exceed Rs1.5 million and for a provincial assembly Rs1 million, EC Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said in a statement.

He rejected press reports that the EC had dispensed with the restrictions and excluded it from the code of conduct for political parties and candidates.

He also said that under the election-related law, a candidate was required to submit return of election expenses within 30 days of publication of his name as returned candidate. He will also be required to submit the return within 10 days from the date of polling to the returning officer on a prescribed form.

The commission will receive nominations and lists of candidates for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims till Nov 25.